Single motive pump, clean-in-place system, for use with piping systems and with vessels

Abstract

A single motive pump, clean-in-place system is disclosed for use with an associated piping system and with a vessel to be cleaned of contaminating material. The system comprises a recirculation loop, a return line from the vessel to the recirculation loop, and a feed line from the recirculation loop to the vessel. During a wash recirculation cycle, the system uses a single motive pump to provide recirculation flow, feed flow, and, via an eductor pump, return suction from the vessel. An alternate embodiment of the clean-in-place system uses a water storage tank when adequate water flow rate or supply pressure are unavailable.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A single motive pump, clean-in-place system for use with an associated piping system and with a vessel to be cleaned of contaminating material, the vessel having a discharge outlet at substantially the bottom of the vessel and having an inlet for providing a liquid to the vessel, comprising: a. a recirculation loop for providing flow communication and including a recirculation pump, an eductor, and a separator, the recirculation pump being a motive pump, being arranged to discharge a liquid through the eductor into the separator, and being supplied with liquid from the separator;   b. a return line for providing flow communication between the discharge outlet of the vessel to be cleaned and the eductor, the recirculation pump causing liquid flowing through the recirculation loop to have a sufficient dynamic head at the eductor to draw liquid from the discharge outlet of the vessel through the return line; and   c. a feed line including a feed line valve for providing flow communication between the recirculation loop and the vessel inlet when the feed line valve is opened, the recirculation pump being arranged to provide a generally continuous flow of liquid through the feed line into the vessel at a generally constant velocity to clean the vessel;   
     
     
       wherein the liquid entering the vessel through the inlet and the liquid discharged from the vessel through the return line are dynamically balanced to minimize pooling of the liquid in the vessel, to suspend contaminating material in the liquid within the vessel, and to carry off the suspended contaminating material from the vessel through the return line. 
     
     
       2. The clean-in-place system of claim 1 further including means for supplying liquid to the system. 
     
     
       3. The clean-in-place system of claim 2 wherein the means for supplying liquid to the system is a liquid supply line. 
     
     
       4. The clean-in-place system of claim 2 wherein the means for supplying liquid to the system is a liquid supply tank. 
     
     
       5. The clean-in-place system of claim 1 wherein the separator has a discharge port for discharging air which is entrained in the liquid discharged from the eductor, and for discharging contaminating material which is suspended in the liquid, and a vacuum breaker operably connected to the discharge port. 
     
     
       6. The clean-in-place system of claim 1 further including a heat exchanger in the feed line.